as in shiver
an instance of shaking involuntarily with fear or cold
a shudder ran through him as he stepped outside into the snow
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
huddled in the basement, we shuddered with fear as we heard the approaching tornado
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shudder
The Athletic's Liverpool Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Do not get engaged at 21 (Belly and Jeremiah again, with the tiny ring that made TikTok shudder).
—Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Noun
Just when Liverpool looked to have revived their season, momentum has stalled — with a shudder.
—The Athletic's Liverpool Staff, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
Do not get engaged at 21 (Belly and Jeremiah again, with the tiny ring that made TikTok shudder).
—Vogue, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
The mind shudders at the thought.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
East Denver sushi fans shuddered in late December when Okinawa Japanese Cuisine, a mainstay on Colfax Avenue since 2010, closed and boarded up its doors with brown paper.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shudder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shudder
Noun
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Earlier this week, Anthropic released new plugins for specific industries, from legal to finance to biotech research, sending shivers down the spine of Wall Street.—
Reed Albergotti,
semafor.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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The mere mention of bed bugs is enough to send a shiver down the spine.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Despite the callouts during the walkabout, King Charles did not appear to respond, continuing down the line of people and shaking hands, the outlet said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
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Last month, the largest protests to shake Iran in more than four decades led to a brutal crackdown.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Furman is one of a kind: a trans, devoutly Jewish former rabbinical student who’s written a book about Lou Reed and sings folk-punk songs in a mercurial tremble.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
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Valeria leaves guard duties to Ellen, a grandmother with a constant tremble in her hands from her MS.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
17 Oct. 2024
Verb
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The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Few things shake the confidence of a person like crawling to the top bunk of a quivering bed frame, your feet wrapping uncomfortably along the frail metal rungs of the ladder.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
27 Jan. 2026
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Over the years, Andrews has garnered comparisons to fellow Arizona native Linda Ronstadt for her rich, clear tone, which can modulate from quivering vibrato to crystalline belt on a dime.—
Lily Goldberg,
Pitchfork,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
My car vibrates at 50 miles per hour and higher.—
John Paul,
The Providence Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
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His photographs vibrate with the excess of their ornamentation, with an audacity of presence that exceeds the realm of the emblematic.—
Zoë Hopkins,
New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shudder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shudder. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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